Archival Footage of the Jimi Hendrix Experience

The film excerpt above from Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin’ features the Jimi Hendrix Experience in promotional film and in performance.

“Are You Experienced as the first album just blew people’s minds,” says Eddie Kramer, who recorded the the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album. “We tried anything and everything to make the sounds different, because we could.”

Musician Dweezil Zappa agrees: “Before that record was made, a lot of those sounds had never been heard.”

The First Jimi Hendrix Songs

The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album in 1967, Are You Experienced, is considered one of the greatest debut albums in rock-and-roll history. After the original U.K. release in May, the U.S. release later that summer differed slightly, adding hit singles such as “Purple Haze,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “Hey Joe.” Hendrix was unhappy that “Red House” was not on the U.S. album. It was first released in 1969 in the U.S. as part of Smash Hits.

Purple Haze

Purple Haze lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. Design by Ricardo Galvez.

The original working title for “Purple Haze,” the second single of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, was “Purple Haze Jesus Saves.” Contrary to popular assumptions about drug references, the song’s meaning is rooted in a dream Hendrix had about Jesus saving him.

The Wind Cries Mary

The Wind Cries Mary lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. Design by Ricardo Galvez.

“The Wind Cries Mary,” written by Jimi Hendrix, was the third single released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Stone Free

Stone Free lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. Design by Ricardo Galvez.

“Stone Free” was the first song Jimi Hendrix wrote. It appeared on B side of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s first single release, “Hey Joe.”

May This Be Love

May This Be Love lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. Design by Ricardo Galvez.

“May This Be Love” is on both the U.K. and U.S. releases of Are You Experienced.

American Masters Funding

American Masters is made possible by the support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding for American Masters is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, Rhoda Herrick, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Vital Projects Fund, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, Rolf and Elizabeth Rosenthal, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Jack Rudin, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, and public television viewers.